Abstract
Tree decline has been observed recently in 25–30 year old pine stands inCladina andCalluna-type heath forests in the Hämeenkangas and Pohjankangas areas of southwestern Finland. The trees had grown more or less normally for 15 years. During the following 7 to 8 years increased growth occurred. From 1982 to 1984, however, the trees revealed a sudden reduction in height increment. Additionally, some trees were marked by poor apical shoot dominance. Occasionally complete crown dieback was observed. The trees retained only one to three years' needles. These needles often were characterized by a brownish yellow discoloration.
Chemical foliar and soil analysis indicate both a nitrogen deficiency and a deficiency in calcium and magnesium related to the relatively high aluminium levels in the soil. In the needles of affected trees phosphorus and especially potassium concentrations were higher than normally.
The low content of nitrogen, calcium and magnesium in the soil is related to the acidic, nutrient-poor bedrock, and the low cation exchange capacity. Also the leaching of nutrients, the shallow and poor quality of the humus layer, and the removal of nutrients by tree harvesting may have effected on the nutritional disturbances.
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Raitio, H., Tikkanen, E. Nutritional disturbances of young pines in a dry heath forest. Plant Soil 113, 229–235 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02280185
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02280185